IP Library Granted Patent US 9,961,342
Granted Patent B2
US 9,961,342 · App. 15/207,019 · Granted May 1, 2018

Display device on/off detection methods and apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,961,342
App. No.
15/207,019
Granted
May 1, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include measuring, with a first sensor, a first temperature value associated with the media device. Example methods disclosed herein also include measuring, with a second sensor, a second temperature value corresponding to an ambient temperature in an environment including the media device. Example methods disclosed herein further include comparing the first temperature value to the second temperature value to make a first determination indicating whether the media device is ON or OFF.

Claims (39)

1. A method to determine whether a media device is ON or OFF, the method comprising:

measuring, with a first sensor attached or positioned proximate to the media device, a first temperature value associated with the media device;

measuring, with a second sensor positioned away from the media device in an environment including the media device, a second temperature value corresponding to an ambient temperature in the environment including the media device;

comparing, by executing an instruction with a processor, the first temperature value to the second temperature value based on a threshold; and

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, whether the media device is ON or OFF based on a result of the comparing of the first temperature value to the second temperature value based on the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparing of the first temperature value to the second temperature value includes:

adjusting the second temperature value based on the threshold to determine an adjusted second temperature value; and

determining whether the first temperature value exceeds the adjusted second temperature value.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the adjusting of the second temperature value based on the threshold includes adding the threshold to the second temperature value.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining of whether the media device is ON or OFF includes determining the media device is ON when the first temperature value exceeds the adjusted second temperature value.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining of whether the media device is ON or OFF includes determining the media device is OFF when the first temperature value does not exceed the adjusted second temperature value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of whether the media device is ON or OFF includes determining the media device is ON when the first temperature value exceeds the second temperature value by at least the threshold.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the result of the comparing of the first temperature value to the second temperature value based on the threshold corresponds to a first determination, and further including combining the first determination and a second determination to determine whether the media device is ON or OFF.

8. A computer readable storage device or storage disk comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

measure, based on a first sensor attached or positioned proximate to a media device, a first temperature value associated with the media device;

measure, based on a second sensor positioned away from the media device in an environment including the media device, a second temperature value corresponding to an ambient temperature in the environment including the media device;

compare the first temperature value to the second temperature value based on a threshold; and

determine whether the media device is ON or OFF based on a result of the first temperature value being compared to the second temperature value based on the threshold.

9. The storage device or storage disk of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to compare the first temperature value to the second temperature value by:

adjusting the second temperature value based on the threshold to determine an adjusted second temperature value; and

determining whether the first temperature value exceeds the adjusted second temperature value.

10. The storage device or storage disk of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to adjust the second temperature value by adding the threshold to the second temperature value.

11. The storage device or storage disk of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine the media device is ON when the first temperature value exceeds the adjusted second temperature value.

12. The storage device or storage disk of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine the media device is OFF when the first temperature value does not exceed the adjusted second temperature value.

13. The storage device or storage disk of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine the media device is ON when the first temperature value exceeds the second temperature value by at least the threshold.

14. The storage device or storage disk of claim 8 , wherein the result of the first temperature value being compared to the second temperature value based on the threshold corresponds to a first determination, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to combine the first determination and a second determination to determine whether the media device is ON or OFF.

15. A metering apparatus comprising:

a first sensor to attach or position proximate to a media device to measure a first temperature value associated with the media device;

a second sensor to position away from the media device in an environment including the media device to measure a second temperature value corresponding to an ambient temperature in the environment including the media device;

a temperature detector to:

compare the first temperature value to the second temperature value based on a threshold; and

determine whether the media device is ON or OFF based on a result of the first temperature value being compared to the second temperature value based on the threshold.

16. The metering apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the temperature detector is to compare the first temperature value to the second temperature value by:

adjusting the second temperature value based on the threshold to determine an adjusted second temperature value; and

determining whether the first temperature value exceeds the adjusted second temperature value.

17. The metering apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the temperature detector is to determine the media device is ON when the first temperature value exceeds the adjusted second temperature value.

18. The metering apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the temperature detector is to determine the media device is OFF when the first temperature value does not exceed the adjusted second temperature value.

19. The metering apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the temperature detector is to determine the media device is ON when the first temperature value exceeds the second temperature value by at least the threshold.

20. The metering apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the result the first temperature value being compared to the second temperature value based on the threshold corresponds to a first determination, and further including a decision processor to combine the first determination and a second determination to determine whether the media device is ON or OFF.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 20, 2016
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 040075/0063 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2016
From: NIELSEN, CHRISTEN V.; NELSON, DAN
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 040075/0018 →